TravelPod Member ReviewsRoyal British Hotel Edinburgh

“ A Welcome Refuge ”

Reviewed May 6, 2014

by lifelearner (5 reviews) Port Townsend , United States

This is a very nice Hotel and the staff so very friendly and helpful.
My room was very comfortable.
I would recommend it for it's cleanliness, comfort, and close proximity to the train station and also walking distance to many historical places.

This review is the subjective opinion of a TravelPod member and not of TravelPod.com.

“ Not so great ”

Reviewed Nov 2, 2013

by braeoz (5 reviews) Gold Coast , Australia

It was central and right next to the train station, but not very nice. The staff kept on making mistakes with our booking and trying to charge us for things that we didn't order. Don't be fooled by the images on the website either.

This review is the subjective opinion of a TravelPod member and not of TravelPod.com.

Historical Traveler Reviews Royal British Hotel Edinburgh

Superb stay - Well recommended

from anonymous

Myself and my girlfriend spent the weekend in Edinburgh for the second time in the same year, but decided to go for a budget option as opposed to the very expensive (yet great service) Malmaison. The Royal British hotel was very inexpensive but proved to be superb when we arrived.

The hotel is clean, well looked after and offers a wonderful, personal level of service. The staff are helpful, keen, friendly and polite. Something which is often very hard to find from a 2* hotel.

We were given an amazing room at the front of the hotel and all of our needs were catered for perfectly by the staff.

If you want a pleasant weekend away and want to be based right in the centre of Edinburgh - you'll love the Royal British Hotel!

Parking & Luggage Problem is a big deal!

from anonymous

The main problem with this hotel is the lack of parking. The closest garage was a block and a half away.

You also, can not even stop in front of the place to unload/load luggage. We had to carry, push pull our luggage uphill and down from the garage.

As far as luggage is concerned, the staff provides no help at all, elderly people will really have a problem with getting their luggage to the hotel.

If you are travelling with more than an overnight bag, I suggest you find somewhere else.

WONDERFUL!

from anonymous

I stayed in Royal British Hotel with my wife and two little boys for 03 nigts and we loved this placa. The location is the best, in Princess Street, near Bus Station e Railway Station, a few distance from the airport. You can go to Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile, Castle Hill in a short and nice walk. You can enjoy a very good full english breakfast. The room is huge and the staff is always with a smile in their faces.

Is there a better location?

from anonymous

Location, location, location! For the price, I could not find a better hotel location. My daughter and I spent three nights (November 4 - 7, 2004) at the Royal British Hotel. The staff was extremely helpful. They explained everything we wanted to know. When we checked in, they gave us room 105 which overlooks the castle. The street out front was busy, but the view was wonderful.

Since it is above the Disney store, we were able to grab some necessary gifts. We visited the Princes Mall directly across the street, and found ourselves just a block away from two large department stores--Jenners and John Lewis. We attended Catholic Mass at St. Mary's Cathedral--just two blocks away. We walked up to the castle--about 20 minutes--all up hill.

The hotel is definately TOURIST. However, the room was clean and the breakfast was plentiful. I would stay here again!

Merely adequate

from anonymous

The Royal British Hotel is among the best situated hotels in central Edinburgh, with easy access to the railway station and the Old Town and pleasant views across Prince's Street. Having said that, I've said almost everything nice there is to say. The accommodations are merely adequate, and the hotel is (as previous reviewers have commented) rather run-down and shabby. I particularly agree with the reviewer who said the staircase looked like it had been attacked by ye Visigoths. Our room had an inexplicably dingy feel to it. Most people wouldn't allow their own homes to fall into such a ---------- state of untidiness, so why should you pay money to stay in a hotel that doesn't maintain decent standards?

Good location, but...

from anonymous

You couldn't ask for a better location, right on Princes Street, close to everything. Looks like it's in great need of refurbishment, though. Everything just seemed... dingy. My room was spacious enough, and the bathroom was fine with the exception of a lack of counter space. I'd say it was an edequate place to stay, although I can't recommend the hotel's breakfast. If you're looking for a great location, this is it. If you're looking for plush, welcoming interiors, look elsewhere.

Better than the common areas look

from anonymous

One thing should be made clear from the beginning...between British hotel standards and the current exchange rate, a hotel in the U.K. that meets the standards of your local Marriott is going to run you $200 per night minimum even at a bargain rate. This place is cheaper...if you think you paid Ritz prices, try the prices at the actual Ritz in London and you'll be a WHOLE lot happier here.

On the downside, the railing on the staircase looks like it has been attacked by Visigoths and the carpet is old. Plumbing in the rooms was also...sluggish.

However, my single room was quite large and the bathroom was obviously NOT one of the pre-fab designs that dominate budget hotels in the U.K.

Edinburgh is a fun town and this place is conveniently located, particularly for lugging your bags to the train station. I didn't feel like this was a bargain, but I didn't feel cheated either.

Worst hotel ever!

from anonymous

My wife and I, along with our 5 year-old daughter stayed in this hotel in December 2003, and were disappointed to say the least. I booked it over the internet, the pictures looked good, and it was right on Princes Street. However, it turned out to be a seedy run-down hotel(though you would never tell by their prices). When we arrived in our room, the TV didn't work, there was one tea-cup( for a two bed room!), no toilet paper, the linoleum in the bathroom rolled up when you opened the door, and the strange gurglings from the bath discouraged my wife from taking a shower she desperately wanted. When we went for breakfast the next morning, the dining room had a beautiful view of Princes Street and Edinburgh Castle. However, one diner complained that the sun was in his eyes. Instead of moving him to another table, the waiter proceeded to close the curtains, blocking the view from everyone on that side of the room, and despite complaints from several other diners refused to reopen them. When my breakfast arrived, it was missing the mushrooms I had ordered. When asked the waitress informed us that they had run out of mushrooms. Two minutes later out they come with a plate for another table with a nice heaping of mushrooms. Needless to say, that waitress blew her tip! All-in-all, unless you want to stay in a doss-house, with Ritz prices, avoid this place like the plague!!

Useful advice

from anonymous

The location of the hotel is great to explore the city. We had a very warm, friendly welcome from the Reception desk. The room was not particularly clean or well decorated. The bed was uncomfortable. In order to have hot water it was necessary to run the tap for at least 10 minutes, the water was a yellowish colour and smelt..unusual. In the hotel information guide breakfast was stated to be served between 7:00am and 10:00am. When we arrived in the breakfast room at 9:35 we were very rudely informed that the chef had cleaned up and would not cook anymore. There is no car park specifically for the hotel, the one that they suggest is a reasonable walk away. This was more of a stressful experience than a holiday!!

Great location, everything else OK

from anonymous

The location is superb, right on the main street, and close to the central railway station and airport bus. Everything else (staff, cleanliness, facilities) was satisfactory, but nothing special.

My room was a single, which was small but quite adequate for someone who is out most of the day. It was at the rear of the hotel, facing a jumble of walls and fire escapes. There was a loud vent of some kind outside, and I was relieved that it was switched off between 11pm and 7am. I was also a bit worried by the small piece of metal that constituted the security latch for the window, especially since the window appeared to be very accessible from outside. Other guest rooms (and the breakfast room) have terrific views over the railway station to the Old Town.

The breakfasts were filling enough, although the cooked breakfast was a bit tired. And you'll save a lot of time if you're energetic enough to use the stairs rather than the lift.

... haunted' part started. I don't believe in ghosts, like I said before, but this was just too weird for me. I felt stupid for doing that, but whatever, I didn't feel comfortable in there. We just did some more wandering around after everyone else finished up the tour, we went to some cool art gallery, but only got about 15 minutes to explore it, because it was closing up for the day. We decided to walk back to the hotel instead of taking ...

... and out. Typical palace with the tapestries and gilt framed paintings, oak paneling and stuccoed ceilings. The highlight was the suite of rooms occupied by Mary Queen of Scots, where her secretary met his grizzly end. There is a brass plaque that marks the spot where he was stabbed multiple times. The palace grounds are also lovely, and we went outside to see the ruins of the Augustinian Abbey established by King David I. Done touring, we went to the cafe ...